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Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Willie Rennie: what the journalists say

It's hard to believe that it's only nine short weeks since Willie Rennie announced he was standing for the leadership of the Scottish Liberal Democrats. He has made quite an impact since he took over, acquiring positive comments and coverage across the media.

Here's a selection of comments made about him in the press. Links are included where the article is available online.

A doughty campaigner, with an unpatronising down-to-earth style, Mr Rennie may grow into an impressive leader, building a level of credibility...The Herald

Amid what was... a general air of gloom, there was one bright spark. This was the performance of Willie Rennie, the new leader of the much depleted Liberal Democrats, whose brief sojourn in the Commons seems to have at least taught him how to frame decent questions, on this occasion about Mr MacAskill's outrageous behaviour."Alan Cochrane, Daily Telegraph (not a known fan of the Liberal Democrats, to put it mildly)

"The former Scottish Lib Dem chief executive has made a decent start and showed he wasn't afraid to throw a punch" Andrew Whitaker, Scotsman

"Mr Rennie looks like he won't back away from Mr Salmond during parliamentary debates". "Mr Rennie looks and sounds like a good Holyrood performer and is probably one of his party's A-listers." Scotsman

"Willie Rennie...gave a good account of himself, and his trenchant questions finally roused the SNP back benches - stunned by the Salmond soliloquy - to something approaching anger. And how we needed it." Times

"Common sense and co-operation - words you don't often see in the same sentence in politics. So credit to new Scottish Lib Dem chief Willie Rennie". The Sun

"Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie yesterday accused the SNP of an 'anywhere but London' attitude to governing the country. He said: 'This is more about Anglophobia than Scottish nationalism.'" Daily Mail

"Willie Rennie is in place for the Liberal Democrats, compensating rather effectively for lack of numbers with high-energy endeavour." Brian Taylor, BBC

Part of the reason it seems longer than 9 weeks since Willie took over is because he's had a huge amount of coverage on the wide range of issues he's spoken out on. Again, here's a selection of the best.

Did the First Minister raise the issue of phone-hacking with Mr Murdoch at the meeting, Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie wants to know. Or was the subject of the chat more about how to persuade the media giant to put its elbow to the SNP wheel?

The answers are unlikely to be overly detailed from the SNP.

The Daily Record doesn't make a habit of writing about the Scottish Liberal Democrats, but they reported Willie's concerns on the implications of independence for university funding.

But last night newly appointed Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said the comments were “more about anglophobia than Scottish nationalism”.

The Sunday Herald on Willie saying independence was a real possibility

The LibDem leader said the SNP’s Holyrood majority had changed the political landscape. “Before it was all theoretical. Now independence is a real possibility. The figures on [support for] independence are moving up. It could really happen,” he said. “Because Alex Salmond is crafty, he may well get people over the edge before they know it.

And as well as all that, Willie has made a huge effort to meet as many Scottish Liberal Democrats as possible, from all over the country. From the Highlands to Inverclyde, he's been campaigning in by-elections and when I spoke to him after one meeting with local activists in Paisley, it was clear he was thoroughly enjoying getting out there and getting to know the members.

It's clear that Willie has impressed in his first 9 weeks. We have a lot to do in the run up to the Council elections next year, but we can be assured that our leader is going to be working energetically, boldly and imaginatively alongside us.

2 comments:

Huh: no surprise that arch unionista and failed Fife MP Rennie gets and easy ride from the pro UK press corps. His performance at FMQ, however, is I see not so quoted. How many questions has he asked in those nine weeks? And why no clips of his stunning ripostes to Alex? One more I’m afraid to say yet another insipid piece of unthinking sycophancy.

Willie of course can indulge in saying any buzz-word or soundbite he likes in the sure fire knowledge that nowadays not even the Labour party would invite him into a coalition. And of course the pro union press just lap that up; and it’s a win win situation as Willie will never have to actually aherm...govern! Instead of just blowing off for the benefit of the Lib Dems and in particular Willie Rennie maybe he would do better to actually sit down and discuss the problems facing this country rather than courting headlines and column inches.